[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 113 (Friday, July 24, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1937]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                  IN TRIBUTE TO REUBEN K. HARPOLE, JR.

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GWEN MOORE

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 23, 2009

  Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a 
visionary, veteran, mentor, ambassador for the African American 
community, and grassroots activist. On September 12, 2009, at the 
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) Ballroom, Reuben K. Harpole, 
Jr. will celebrate his 75th birthday being honored by grateful members 
of the community for 50 years of service.
  Mr. Harpole was born in Milwaukee to parents Mardee Johnson Harpole 
and Mr. Reuben K. Harpole, Sr. After graduating from North Division 
High School, he earned his bachelor's degree in elementary education 
from UWM. He and his wife Mildred are long time members of All Saints 
Catholic Church. After his parents' divorce, Mr. Harpole and his three 
siblings were raised by his single parent mom and his maternal 
grandparents. Mr. Harpole was close to his Grandfather Johnson who ran 
numerous family businesses, all while working fulltime at a Milwaukee 
foundry.
  Mr. Harpole worked for 31 years at UWM. When he retired in 1997 he 
was a Senior Outreach Specialist at UWM's Center for Urban Community 
Development. Since 1998, he has served as Special Advisor to the 
President of the Helen Bader Foundation. Mr. Harpole created and 
managed the Sankofa-Youth Development Program Area for 10 years, 
awarding more than $5.6 million in grant dollars to small grassroots-
oriented youth organizations in Milwaukee's low-income neighborhoods. 
Mr. Harpole helped initiate Homework First, an educational enrichment 
program serving low income students in more than 40 Milwaukee Public 
Schools.
  Mr. Harpole received numerous awards including: an Honorary Doctorate 
of Humane Letters in 2005 from UWM, as well as the St. Mark African 
Methodist Episcopal Church's 2006 Dr. Martin Luther King Award. He and 
his wife of 50 years, Mildred were recipients of the Thurgood Marshall 
Scholarship Fund's 2005 Community Service Award, the YMCA's 2004 
Lincoln Gaines Award, and the 1993 Vatican II Awards. Mr. Harpole 
helped found numerous organizations benefitting the greater Milwaukee 
community. He continues to serve in a leadership role in various 
community groups including: the Community Brainstorming Breakfast 
Forum, Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Black School Educators, 
and the United Negro College Fund.
  Madam Speaker, for these reasons, I am honored to pay tribute to 
Reuben K. Harpole, Jr. Mr. Harpole's contributions have greatly 
benefitted the citizens of the Fourth Congressional District.

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